For more than 121 years, WoodTrust Bank has been serving the Wisconsin Rapids area, providing a local banking option for residents and businesses.

Steve Bell, WoodTrust Bank’s chairman and CEO, said he’s proud WoodTrust provides full-service banking to the communities it serves. The bank also donates about $200,000 a year to local charities. WoodTrust has branches in Wisconsin Rapids, Plover, Wausau and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Question: What does your business do and why is it special?

Answer: We handle all kinds of banking, trusts and investment services. We have about $360 million in assets. We have clients in 37 states. We have a charitable foundation that we established about 20 years ago and have, to date, contributed close to $3 million back to the community to local charities and nonprofit organizations.

The level of service we provide to our clients, our interest in the community and our desire to be a good place for our associates to work makes us special.

Q: Why have you chose central Wisconsin as a place to do business?

A: The central Wisconsin area is home to us. The people here are great and have good work ethics. It’s a great place to raise a family and enjoy life.

Q: What’s your long-term vision for the company?

A: We want to continue to be a family-owned, community-oriented company. We’ll continue to grow and support the community as we see fit.

We are unique. There aren’t a lot of community banks.

Q: What might people be surprised to learn about your business?

A: I think people would be surprised at the size, the complexity and technology that we have available and can bring to support our clients. They would be surprised at the size and scope of the trusts and investment operations. We have everything you could possibly want. Our main focus is on local businesses and business owners. We have a complete suite of cash-management and banking delivery products for businesses. There’s an advantage to having a local bank.

Q: What does your business bring to the local economy and community?

A: We’re a local source of funding and support for businesses and individuals as they seek to grow their businesses. We provide high-quality employee benefit programs and retirement-planning services for individuals. Our foundation provides a lot of support to nonprofits in the area, and we employee 110 people with salaries and benefits.